ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the efficacy of knee-balancing manipulation plus heat-sensitive moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its impact on the expression of C-telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen (CTX-Ⅰ), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS-4), and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3). Methods: A total of 134 unilateral KOA patients were randomized into a knee-balancing group, a heat-sensitive moxibustion group, and a joint intervention group. The knee-balancing group received knee-balancing Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation for treatment. The heat-sensitive moxibustion group received heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment. The joint intervention group received the heat-sensitive moxibustion in addition to the knee- balancing manipulation. The intervention period lasted for four weeks. After the treatment, and at the 2-week and 6-week follow-ups, the three groups were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) for knee joint pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index (WOMAC), and clinical efficacy was also evaluated. The enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to detect the expression levels of serum CTX-Ⅰ, TRACP-5b, ADAMTS-4, and MMP-3. Results: The knee-balancing group had 44 participants, but one dropped out; there was no dropout case among the 44 participants in the heat-sensitive moxibustion group; among the 46 participants in the joint intervention group, two cases dropped out. After the treatment, and at the 2-week and 6-week follow-ups, the total effective rate was found higher in the joint intervention group than in the knee-balancing and heat-sensitive moxibustion groups (P<0.05). Compared with the baseline, the VAS and WOMAC scores and the serum levels of CTX-Ⅰ, TRACP-5b, ADAMTS-4, and MMP-3 decreased significantly in all three groups after treatment and at the 2-week and 6-week follow-ups (P<0.05). At the same three time points, the VAS and WOMAC scores and serum levels of CTX-Ⅰ, TRACP-5b, ADAMTS-4, and MMP-3 were lower in the joint intervention group than in the knee-balancing and heat-sensitive moxibustion groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Either used alone or combined, the knee-balancing manipulation and heat-sensitive moxibustion therapy can improve the symptoms and down-regulate the serum levels of CTX-Ⅰ, TRACP-5b, ADAMTS-4, and MMP-3 in KOA patients, producing durable efficacy; nevertheless, a more significant efficacy can be achieved by combining the two methods.
ABSTRACT
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE ADAMTS4 is a member of the ADAMTS4 family, which secretes proteinases. The mechanism of tumor metastasis may be correlated to its promotion of angiogenesis. It was determined whether ADAMTS4 participates in colorectal cancer progression. Methods The expression in clinical samples and CRC cell lines was investigated. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and RT-PCR, the expression of ADAMTS4 was determined in colorectal tumors of different cancer stages and anatomic sites, and in three cell lines of different aggressiveness. Results The overexpression of ADAMTS4 was observed in tissue samples by IHC, and this was mainly located in the cytoplasm, as detected by FISH. The qRT-PCR and western blot analyses further supported the clinical sample findings. Conclusion The present data support the notion that the overexpression of ADAMTS4 in CRC might be useful as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting CRC in patients.
RESUMO OBJETIVO ADAMTS4 é um membro da família ADAMTS4, que secreta proteinases. O mecanismo da metástase do tumor pode ser correlacionado a sua promoção da angiogênese. Determinou-se se ADAMTS4 participa na progressão do câncer colorretal. Métodos A expressão em amostras clínicas e linhas de células CRC foi investigada. Usando a imuno-histoquímica (IHC), a hibridação fluorescente in situ (HFIS) e o RT-PCR, a expressão de ADAMTS4 foi determinada em tumores colorretais de diferentes estágios do câncer e locais anatômicos, e em três linhas de células de níveis de agressividade distintos. Resultados A superexpressão de ADAMTS4 foi observada em amostras de tecido por IHC, e esta foi localizada principalmente no citoplasma, como detectado pelo HFIS. O qRT-PCR e a análise de wester blot corroboraram os resultados clínicos da amostra. Conclusão Os dados atuais corroboram a noção de que a superexpressão de ADAMTS4 no CRC pode ser útil como um biomarcador não invasivo para a detecção de CRC em pacientes.